Overturn preventing device

ABSTRACT

Providing an overturn preventing device which is easy in handling such as carrying. The overturn preventing device includes a damper, a first base portion, a second base portion and a connecting tool. The damper is mounted between a top surface of furniture and a ceiling. An expansion force of compressed gas filling a cylinder is applied to the damper in a direction such that a length of the damper is increased. The first base portion is rotatably connected to one of two ends of the damper and has a first abutting surface which abuts against the top surface of the furniture. The second base portion is rotatably connected to the other end of the damper and has a second abutting surface which abuts against the ceiling. The connecting tool maintains a folded state in which the damper is contracted so that the first base portion and the second base portion come close to each other.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an overturn preventing device.

BACKGROUND ART

Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional overturn preventing device.This overturn preventing device is mounted between a top surface of apiece of furniture installed on a floor and a ceiling. The overturnpreventing device includes a support pillar with a built-in spring andbase portions mounted to both ends of the support pillar. Each baseportion has a disk-shaped base body and a columnar shaft extendingvertically from a center of one side of the base body. The shafts of thebase portions are inserted into both ends of the support pillarrespectively and at least one of the base portions is disposed so as tobe movable forward and backward in an axial direction. The springapplies an elastic force to the base portions which are movable forwardand backward in an extending direction of the overturn preventingdevice. While the spring is slightly compressed, the base body of onebase portion is caused to abut against the top surface of the furniture,and the base body of the other base portion is caused to abut againstthe ceiling. The overturn preventing device is thus mounted between thetop surface of the furniture and the ceiling with the support pillarextending vertically and can prevent the furniture from overturn due toquakes of earthquake or the like.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Documents

Patent Document 1: Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3028334

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problem to be Overcome by the Invention

In the overturn preventing device of Patent Document 1, however, sincethe elastic force of the spring is applied in the extending direction ofthe overturn preventing device, the overturn preventing device ishandled, for example, carried in a maximum expanded state until mountedbetween the top surface of the furniture and the ceiling. Accordingly,the overturn preventing device is difficult to handle, for example, tocarry.

The present invention was made in view of the above-describedcircumstances in the conventional art and has an object to provide anoverturn preventing device which is easy in handling such as carrying.

Means for Overcoming the Problem

An overturn preventing device of the present invention includes anoverturn preventing tool, a first base portion, a second base portionand a connecting tool. The overturn preventing tool is mounted betweenan article installed on an installation surface and a ceiling, a wallsurface extending in a vertical direction from the installation surfaceor the installation surface, and a force is applied to the overturnpreventing tool in a direction such that a length thereof is increased.The first base portion is rotatably connected to one of two ends of theoverturn preventing tool and has a first abutting surface which abutsagainst the article. The second base portion is rotatably connected tothe other end of the overturn preventing tool and has a second abuttingsurface which abuts against the ceiling, the wall surface or theinstallation surface. The connecting tool maintains a folded state inwhich the overturn preventing tool is contracted so that the first baseportion and the second base portion come close to each other.

The overturn preventing device of the invention may further include anangle regulating member which regulates the overturn preventing tool sothat the overturn preventing tool makes a predetermined angle withrespect to the first abutting surface of the first base portion and thesecond abutting surface of the second base portion under a conditionwhere the overturn preventing tool has been released from holding of thefolded state by the connecting tool.

Furthermore, the overturn preventing device of the invention may furtherinclude a distance regulating member which regulates the overturnpreventing tool so that the first and second base portions are away fromeach other by a predetermined distance when the overturn preventing toolhas extended.

The article includes furniture, a bed having a plurality of bedsconnected to each other in the up-down direction, large sizedtelevisions, refrigerators, book shelves, showcases and server racks,all of which have a possibility of being overturned by quakes ofearthquake or the like. The installation surface includes not only floorsurfaces located inside buildings but also foundation surfaces which arelocated outside buildings and on which articles are installed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the overturn preventing device of a firstembodiment, mounted between a top surface of furniture and the ceiling;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the overturn preventing device of thefirst embodiment, maintained in a folded state by connecting tools, withone of the connecting tools being detached;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the overturn preventing device of thefirst embodiment, maintained in the folded state by the connectingtools;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the overturn preventing device of a secondembodiment, mounted between the top surface of furniture and theceiling;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the overturn preventing device lc of thesecond embodiment, maintained in the folded state by the connectingtools, with one of the connecting tools being detached;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the overturn preventing device of a thirdembodiment, mounted between the top surface of furniture and theceiling; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the overturn preventing device of thethird embodiment, maintained in the folded state by the connectingtools.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

First to third embodiments of the overturn preventing devices of thepresent invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

At least one overturn preventing device 10 of the first embodiment ismounted between a top surface 1U of a piece of furniture 1 installed ona floor surface (not shown) and a ceiling C while a rear surface 1B ofthe furniture 1 is opposed to a wall surface W extending in a verticaldirection from the floor surface, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Thefurniture 1 is formed into a cuboid shape and has a door, drawers(neither shown) and the like in a front 1F, so that clothes, accessoriesand the like can be housed in the furniture 1. The furniture 1 has arectangle-shaped horizontal section long in a right-left direction (adepthwise direction in FIG. 1). When the overturn preventing device 10is not mounted on the furniture 1, the furniture 1 would possibly betilted in a front direction (rightward in FIG. 1) by quakes ofearthquake or the like thereby to he overturned.

The overturn preventing device 10 includes a damper 20 as a overturnpreventing tool mounted between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1and the ceiling C, a first base portion 30, a second base portion 40, atorsion coil spring 50, and an angle regulating member 60. The overturnpreventing device 10 also includes connecting tools 70 maintaining thefolded state in which the damper 20 is contracted to the maximum so thatthe first base portion 30 and the second base portion 40 come close toeach other.

The damper 20 is mounted between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1and the ceiling C. The damper 20 has a cylinder 21, a piston (notshown), a rod 22 and a rod guide (not shown). The cylinder 21 has abottomed cylindrical shape. The rod guide closes an opening of thecylinder 21. The piston is slidably inserted into the cylinder 21. Therod 22 has a proximal end connected to the piston and a distal end sideextending through the rod guide outside the cylinder 21. Operating oiland a compression gas are enclosed in the cylinder 21. When the lengthof the damper 20 is reduced by contraction with the result that thecompression gas enclosed in the cylinder 21 is compressed, an expansionforce of the compression gas is applied in an extending direction of thedamper 20.

The damper 20 is a compression damper in which a damping force generatedduring an extending operation is smaller than a damping force generatedduring a compressing operation. The extending operation of the damper 20refers to an operation which increases an amount of protrusion of therod 22 out of the cylinder 21 and an entire length of the damper 20. Onthe other hand, the compressing operation of the damper 20 refers to anoperation which reduces an amount of protrusion of the rod 22 out of thecylinder 21 and the entire length of the damper 20.

A mechanism that the damper 20 generates a damping force will bedescribed. Since the mechanism has a known structure, diagrammaticrepresentation is eliminated. The cylinder 21 has an interior divided bythe piston into a rod side pressure chamber in which the proximal end ofthe rod 22 is housed and a counter-rod side pressure chamber. The pistonis formed with an orifice which is a throttle valve communicatingbetween both pressure chambers. The orifice functions as a damping forcegenerator which applies resistance to a flow of the operating oilbetween the rod side pressure chamber and the counter-rod side pressurechamber with the extending/compressing operation of the damper 20.Furthermore, the piston is formed with a communication pathcommunicating via a check valve with both pressure chambers. The checkvalve allows the operating oil to flow from the rod side pressurechamber to the counter-rod side pressure chamber and blocks reverse flowof the operating oil. Accordingly, the damper 20 has two flow paths ofthe operating oil from the rod side pressure chamber to the counter-rodside pressure chamber during the extending operation, that is, one flowpath including the orifice and the other flow path including thecommunication path. On the other hand, the damper 20 has only one flowpath of the operating oil from the counter-rod side pressure chamber tothe rod side pressure chamber through the orifice during the compressingoperation. Accordingly, the damping force generated by the damper 20during the extending operation is smaller than the damping forcegenerated by the damper 20 during the compressing operation.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first base portion 30 is formedinto an elongate shape and has a flat plate-shaped first base plate 31further having a first abutting surface 31A which is brought intoface-to-face contact with the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and afirst connecting part 32 which is formed to protrude from a surface 31B(a side opposite to the first abutting surface 31A) of the first baseplate 31 and to which a proximal end of the cylinder 21 of the damper 20is connected. The first connecting part 32 is formed near one end of thefirst base plate 31 (a left end as viewed in FIG. 1). The firstconnecting part 32 has a flat plate-shaped first connecting part body32A which is in parallel to a direction in which the first base portion30 extends and a columnar first shaft 32E extending from both sides ofthe first connecting part body 32A on a common straight lineperpendicular to the direction in which the first base portion 30extends. The first connecting part body 32A has a distal end with asemicircular outer edge configuration.

The damper 20 has a pair of flat plate-shaped cylinder side connectingparts 23 which are formed on the proximal end of the cylinder 21 so asto sandwich the first connecting part body 32A, as illustrated in FIG.3. Each cylinder side connecting part 23 has a distal end with asemicircular outer edge configuration. The cylinder side connectingparts 23 also have respective through holes provided on a commonstraight line perpendicular to an axis line of the cylinder 21. Thefirst shaft 32B extending from both sides of the first connecting partbody 32A are inserted into the through holes of the paired cylinder sideconnecting parts 23 in a retained state, so that the damper 20 isconnected to the first base portion 30 so as to be rotatable about thefirst shaft 32B.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second base portion 40 is alsoformed into an elongate shape and has a flat plate-shaped second baseplate 41 further having a second abutting surface 41A which is broughtinto face-to-face contact with the ceiling C and a second connectingpart 42 which is formed to protrude from a surface 41B (a side oppositeto the second abutting surface 41A) of the second base plate 41 and towhich a distal end of the rod 22 of the damper 20 is connected. Thesecond connecting part 42 is formed near one end of the second baseplate 41 (a right end as viewed in FIG. 1). The second connecting part42 has a flat plate-shaped second connecting part body 42A which is inparallel to a direction in which the second base portion 40 extends anda columnar second shaft 42B extending from both sides of the secondconnecting part body 42A on a common straight line perpendicular to thedirection in which the second base portion 40 extends. The secondconnecting part body 42A has a distal end with a semicircular outer edgeconfiguration.

The damper 20 has a pair of flat plate-shaped rod side connecting parts24 which are formed on the distal end of the rod 22 so as to sandwichthe second connecting part body 42A. Each rod side connecting part 24has a distal end with a semicircular outer edge configuration. The rodside connecting parts 24 also have respective through holes provided ona common straight line perpendicular to an axis line of the rod 22. Thesecond shaft 42B extending from both sides of the second connecting partbody 42A are inserted into the through holes of the paired rod sideconnecting parts 24 in a retained state, so that the damper 20 isconnected to the second base portion 40 so as to be rotatable about thesecond shaft 42B.

The torsion coil spring 50 has a coil portion 50A through which thefirst shaft 32B of the first connecting part 32 of the first baseportion 30 is inserted, one of two ends 50B in abutment against thesurface 31B of the first base plate 31 of the first base portion 30, andthe other end 50C locked in engagement with one of the cylinder sideconnecting parts 23 of the damper 20. The torsion coil spring 50 appliesan elastic force to the damper 20 in a direction such that the damper 20is raised with respect to the first base portion 30. More specifically,the torsion coil spring 50 applies the elastic force so that the damper20 is rotatively moved in the counterclockwise direction about the firstshaft 32B of the first connecting part 32 of the first base portion 30,as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The angle regulating member 60 has a support portion 60A extending fromthe surface 31B of the first base plate 31 of the first base portion 30and a gripper 60B provided on a distal end of the support portion 60A togrip the cylinder 21 of the damper 20. The support portion 60A has alower part extending perpendicularly from the surface 31B of the firstbase plate 31 located between the first connecting part 32 of the firstbase plate 31 and one of ends thereof (a left end as viewed in FIG. 1)and an upper part which is continuous to an upper end of the lower partand is inclined in a direction such that the upper part departs from thefirst base plate 31 toward the other end (the right as viewed in FIG. 1)of the first base plate 31. More specifically, the upper part of thesupport portion 60A extends at a predetermined angle to the surface 31Band the first abutting surface 31A of the first base plate 31.

The gripper 60B has a pair of grip pieces 61 extending in a commondirection continuously from two points on a distal end of the supportportion 60A. The grip pieces 61 of the gripper 60B are curved so as tohave the same curvature radius as the outer periphery of the cylinder 21so that the grip pieces 61 tightly abut against the outer surface of thecylinder 21 when the cylinder 21 is held between the paired grip pieces61. Furthermore, the grip pieces 61 of the gripper 60B have respectivedistal ends open outward so that the cylinder 21 is easily insertedbetween the grip pieces 61. Furthermore, the grip pieces 61, are formedso that a narrowest space between the distal ends of the grip pieces 61is smaller than the diameter of the cylinder 21.

The grip pieces 61 of the gripper 60B constructed as described above areelastically deformed so that the respective distal ends are spread, withthe result that the cylinder 21 can be held between the grip pieces 61.In this case, since inner surfaces of the grip pieces 61 tightly abutagainst the outer surface of the cylinder 21, the gripper 60B can gripthe cylinder 21 without looseness. The cylinder 21 gripped by thegripper 60B has an axis line inclined at a predetermined angle to thefirst abutting surface 31A of the first base portion 30. In other words,the angle regulating member 60 can regulate the damper 20 so that thedamper 20 makes the predetermined angle with respect to the firstabutting surface 31A of the first base portion 30.

The damper 20 is compressed to a maximum extent so that the first andsecond base portions 30 and 40 come closest to each other while thefirst base plate 31 of the first base portion 30 is parallel to thesecond base plate 41 of the second base portion 40, as illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3. This state is referred to as “a folded state.” Theconnecting tools 70 are fitted with both ends of the first and secondbase plates 31 and 41 (right and left ends as viewed in FIG. 3) when theoverturn preventing device 10 is in the folded state. More specifically,two connecting tools 70 constitute one set. Each connecting tool 70 hasrectangular connecting tool body 71 and locking pieces 72 which extendfrom longer sides of the connecting tool body 71 in the same directionwhile being perpendicular to the longer sides. The connecting tool body71 has a shorter side having a length that is equal to a distancebetween the first abutting surface 31A of the first base plate 31 andthe second abutting surface 41A of the second base plate 41 in thefolded state of the overturn preventing device 10. The longer side ofthe connecting tool body 71 has a length that is equal to a length ofthe longer sides of the first and second base plates 31 and 41. Theconnecting tools 70 are fitted with the first and second base plates 31and 41 so that the locking pieces 72 are locked in engagement with outersurfaces of both ends of the first and second base plates 31 and 41 ofthe overturn preventing device 10 in the folded state, thereby beingcapable of holding the overturn preventing device 10 in the foldedstate. Consequently, the overturn preventing device 10 can be handled,for example, carried in a compact size, while being held in the foldedstate by the connecting tools 70.

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 1, when to be mounted between thetop surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C, the overturnpreventing device 10 can be mounted in the following manner. Firstly,the overturn preventing device 10 held in the folded state by theconnecting tools 70 is placed on the top surface 1U of the furniture 1.In this case, the overturn preventing device 10 is placed on the topsurface 1U of the furniture 1 while the first base portion 30 is locatedat the lower side. Next, the connecting tools 70 are detached from theboth ends of the respective first and second base plates 31 and 41 ofthe overturn preventing device 10 held in the folded state. The elasticforce of the torsion coil spring 50 then causes the damper 20 to rotatein the counterclockwise direction about the first shaft 32B, and anexpansion force of the compression gas filling the cylinder 21 causesthe damper 20 to extend in length. The cylinder 21 of the damper 20 isgripped by the gripper 60B of angle regulating member 60, so that thedamper 20 makes a predetermined angle with respect to the first abuttingsurface 31A of the first base portion 30. The second abutting surface41A of the second base portion 40 abuts against the ceiling C in thisstate. More specifically, the damper 20 makes the predetermined anglealso with the second abutting surface 41A. Thus, the overturn preventingdevice 10 can be mounted between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1and the ceiling C while the damper 20 makes the predetermined angle withrespect to the first abutting surface 31A of the first base portion 30and the second abutting surface 41A of the second base portion 40. Thepredetermined angle refers to an optimum angle at which force resultingfrom tilt of the furniture 1 due to quakes of earthquake or the like canbe damped by a damping force caused by the compressing operation of thedamper 20, so that the furniture 1 can be prevented from overturn byreducing the tilt of the furniture 1. This angle preferably ranges from65° to 85° relative to the first abutting surface 31A of the first baseportion 30 (the top surface 1U of the furniture 1) (the same shall applyhereinafter).

The overturn preventing device 10 of the first embodiment includes thedamper 20, the first base portion 30, the second base portion 40 and theconnecting tools 70. The damper 20 is mounted between the top surface 1Uof the furniture 1 installed on the floor and the ceiling C, and theexpansion force of the compression gas filling the cylinder 21 of thedamper 20 is applied in the direction such that the length of the damper20 is increased. The first base portion 30 is connected to the one endof the damper 20 (the proximal end of the cylinder 21) so as to berotatable. The first base portion 30 has the first abutting surface 31Aabutting against the top surface 1U of the furniture 1. The second baseportion 40 is connected to the other end of the damper 20 (the distalend of the rod 22) so as to be rotatable. The second base portion 40 hasthe second abutting surface 41A abutting against the ceiling C. Theconnecting tools 70 compress the damper 20 to hold the damper 20 in thefolded state in which the first and second base portions 30 and 40 comeclose to each other.

Since the connecting tools 70 can hold the damper 20 in the folded statein which the damper 20 is compressed with the result that the first andsecond base portions 30 and 40 come close to each other, the overturnpreventing device 10 can be handled, for example, carried in a compactsize.

Accordingly, the overturn preventing device of the first embodiment caneasily be handled, for example, carried.

Furthermore, the overturn preventing device of the first embodimentincludes the angle regulating member 60 regulating the damper 20 so thatthe damper 20 makes a predetermined angle with respect to the firstabutting surface 31A of the first base portion 30 and the secondabutting surface 41A of the second base portion 40. Accordingly, theoverturn preventing device 10 can be installed between the top surface1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C while the damper 20 makes thepredetermined angle with respect to the first abutting surface 31A ofthe first base portion 30 and the second abutting surface 41A of thesecond base portion 40, with the result that the furniture 1 cansuccessfully be prevented from overturn.

Second Embodiment

The overturn preventing device 110 of a second embodiment differs fromthe first embodiment in that distance regulating members 80 are providedwithout provision of the angle regulating members 60, as illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5. The second embodiment is similar to the first embodimentin the other construction. Identical or similar parts are labeled by thesame reference symbols as those in the first embodiment, and thedetailed description of these parts will be eliminated.

The distance regulating members 80 each have first to fourth bottomedcylindrical portions 81, 82, 83 and 84 and disk-shaped connecting member85. The second cylindrical portion 82 is inserted into an opening of thefirst cylindrical portion 81 from the bottom side and retained therebyto be axially movable forward and backward in the first cylindricalportion 81. The third cylindrical portion 83 is inserted into an openingof the second cylindrical portion 82 from the bottom side and retainedthereby to be axially movable forward and backward in the secondcylindrical portion 82. The fourth cylindrical portion 84 is insertedinto an opening of the third cylindrical portion 83 from the bottom sideand retained thereby to be axially movable forward and backward in thethird cylindrical portion 83. The connecting member 85 is attached tothe distal end of the fourth cylindrical portion 84. The distanceregulating member 80 is axially telescopic.

The first and second base portions 30 and 40 are connected to each otherby the distance regulating members 80 in the overturn preventing device110. Two distance regulating members 80 constitute one set. Morespecifically, proximal ends of the respective distance regulatingmembers 80 (closed ends of the first cylindrical portions 81) are bondedto the surface 31B at both ends of the first base portion 30 thereby tobe fixed. The distance regulating members 80 are telescopic in adirection perpendicular to the surface 31B of the first base portion 30and have respective distal ends (the connecting members 85) bonded tothe surface 41B at both ends of the second base portion 40 thereby to befixed.

With telescopic movement of the damper 20 and the distance regulatingmembers 80, the first and second base portions 30 and 40 depart fromeach other or come close to each other while the first base plate 31 ofthe first base portion 30 and the second base plate 41 of the secondbase portion 40 are in parallel to each other. The damper 20 and thedistance regulating members 80 are contracted to the maximum, so thatthe first and second base portions 30 and 40 come closest to each other,as illustrated in FIG. 5. This state will be referred to as foldedstate. The connecting tools 70 are fitted with both ends of the firstbase plate 31 and both ends of the second base plate 41 in, the foldedstate. Consequently, the overturn preventing device 110 can be handled,for example, carried in a compact size, while being held in the foldedstate by the connecting tools 70.

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 4, when to be mounted between thetop surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C, the overturnpreventing device 110 can be mounted in the following manner. Firstly,the overturn preventing device 110 held in the folded state by theconnecting tools 70 is placed on the top surface 1U of the furniture 1.In this case, the overturn preventing device 110 is placed on the topsurface 1U while the first base portion 30 is located at the lower side.Next, the connecting tools 70 are detached from the both ends of therespective first and second base plates 31 and 41 of the overturnpreventing device 110 held in the folded state. The elastic force of thetorsion coil spring 50 then causes the damper 20 to rotate in thecounterclockwise direction about the first shaft 32B, and an expansionforce of the compression gas filling the cylinder 21 causes the damper20 to extend in length. The distance regulating members 80 also extendswith extension of the damper 20, so that the distance between the firstand second base portions 30 and 40 is increased. The second abuttingsurface 41A of the second base portion 40 abuts against the ceiling Cimmediately when or slightly before the distance regulating members 80extend to reach the predetermined length. Accordingly, the distancebetween the first and second base portions 30 and 40 is set to asubstantially predetermined distance. In this case, the damper 20 of theoverturn preventing device 110 is inclined at a substantiallypredetermined angle with respect to the first abutting surface 31A ofthe first base portion 30 and the second abutting surface 41A of thesecond base portion 40.

The overturn preventing device 110 of the second embodiment alsoincludes the damper 20, the first base portion 30, the second baseportion 40 and the connecting tools 70. The damper 20 is mounted betweenthe furniture 1 installed on the floor and the ceiling C, and theexpansion force of the compression gas filling the cylinder 21 of thedamper 20 is applied in the direction such that the length of the damper20 is increased. The first base portion 30 is connected to the one endof the damper 20 (the proximal end of the cylinder 21) so as to berotatable. The first base portion 30 has the first abutting surface 31Aabutting against the top surface 1U of the furniture 1. The second baseportion 40 is connected to the other end of the damper 20 (the distalend of the rod 22) so as to be rotatable. The second base portion 40 hasthe second abutting surface 41A abutting against the ceiling C. Theconnecting tools 70 compress the damper 20 to hold the damper 20 in thefolded state in which the first and second base portions 30 and 40 comeclose to each other.

Since the connecting tools 70 can hold the damper 20 in the folded statein which the damper 20 is compressed with the result that the first andsecond base portions 30 and 40 come close to each other, the overturnpreventing device 110 can be handled, for example, carried in a compactsize.

Accordingly, the overturn preventing device 110 of the second embodimentcan easily be handled, for example, carried.

Furthermore, the overturn preventing device 110 of the second embodimentincludes the distance regulating members 80 regulating the first andsecond base portions 30 and 40 to be located with the predetermineddistance therebetween when the overturn preventing tool extends.Accordingly, when the damper 20 is released from the holding of thefolded state by the connecting tools 70, the damper 20 extends with theresult that the distance between the first and second base portions 30and 40 is increased. Since the distance between the first and secondbase portions 30 and 40 is regulated into the predetermined distance bythe distance regulating members 80, the distance between the first andsecond base portions 30 and 40 is set to the predetermined distance andis not excessively increased. When a plurality of types of overturnpreventing devices 110 differing in the predetermined distance betweenthe first and second base portions 30 and 40 regulated by the distanceregulating members 80, are prepared according to the distance betweenthe upper surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C, the overturnpreventing devices 110 can easily be installed between the top surface1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C. Furthermore, the damper 20 canbe mounted at the predetermined angle with respect to the first abuttingsurface 31A of the first base portion 30 and the second abutting surface41A of the second base portion 40, with the result that the furniture 1can successfully be prevented from overturn.

Third Embodiment

The overturn preventing device 210 of a third embodiment differs fromthe first embodiment in the configuration of the first and second baseportions 230 and 240, the configuration of the angle regulating member260 and the configuration of the connecting tools 270. The thirdembodiment is similar to the first embodiment in the other construction.Identical or similar parts are labeled by the same reference symbols asthose in the first embodiment, and the detailed description of theseparts will be eliminated.

The first base portion 230 and the second base portion 240 has a commonshape. The first base portion 230 is formed into an elongate shape. Thefirst base portion 230 has a flat plate-shaped first base plate 231, aflat plate-shaped vertical plate 232, a folded portion 233 and a firstconnecting portion 234. The first base plate 231 has the first abuttingsurface 231A which is brought into a face-to-face contact with the topsurface 1U of the furniture 1. The vertical plate 232 extends from one(a left end as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7) of two ends of the first baseplate 231 perpendicularly to the first base plate 231. The foldedportion 233 protrudes from a distal end (an upper end as viewed in FIGS.6 and. 7) of the vertical plate 232 in the same direction as the firstbase plate 231 extends. The first connecting portion 234 is formed toprotrude from an inner surface (a right surface as viewed in FIGS. 6 and7) of the vertical plate 232, and the proximal end of the cylinder 21 ofthe damper 20 is connected to the first connecting portion 234. Thefirst connecting portion 234 has a flat plate-shaped first connectingportion body 234A parallel to an extending direction of the verticalplate 232 and a cylindrical first shaft 234B extending from both sidesof the first connecting portion body 234A on a common straight lineperpendicular to the extending direction of the vertical plate 232. Thefirst connecting portion body 234A has a distal end having asemicircular outer edge.

The second base portion 240 is also formed into an elongate shape. Thesecond base portion 240 has a flat plate-shaped second base plate 241, aflat plate-shaped vertical plate 242, a folded portion 243 and a secondconnecting portion 244. The second base plate 241 has the secondabutting surface 241A which is brought into a face-to-face contact withthe ceiling C. The vertical plate 242 extends from one (a right end asviewed in FIGS. 6 and 7) of two ends of the second base plate 241perpendicularly to the second base plate 241. The folded portion 243protrudes from a distal end (a lower end as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7) ofthe vertical plate 242 in the same direction as the second base plate241 extends. The second connecting portion 244 is formed to protrudefrom an inner surface (a left surface as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7) of thevertical plate 242, and the proximal end of the rod 22 of the damper 20is connected to the second connecting portion 244. The second connectingportion 244 has a flat plate-shaped second connecting portion body 244Aparallel to an extending direction of the vertical plate 242 and acylindrical second shaft 2443 extending from both sides of the secondconnecting portion body 244A on a common straight line perpendicular tothe extending direction of the vertical plate 242. The second connectingportion body 244A has a distal end having a semicircular outer edge.

When the damper 20 is compressed, the first and second base portions 230and 240 come closest to each other as illustrated in FIG. 7, so that theoverturn preventing device 210 is in a folded state where the first baseplate 231 of the first base portion 230 and the second base plate 241 ofthe second base portion 240 are in parallel to each other. In otherwords, when the overturn preventing device 210 is in the folded state,the distal end surface of the vertical plate 232 of the first baseportion 230 and a side surface of the folded portion 233 continuous fromthe distal end surface of the plate 232 (an upper side surface as viewedin FIG. 7) abut against the surface 241B (a lower side surface as viewedin FIG. 7) of the second base plate 241 of the second base portion 240.Furthermore, the distal end surface of the vertical plate 242 of thesecond base portion 240 and a side surface of the folded portion 243continuous from the distal end surface of the plate 242 (a lower sidesurface as viewed in FIG. 7) abut against the surface 231B (an upperside surface as viewed in FIG. 7) of the first base plate 231 of thefirst base portion 230.

The angle regulating member 260 is composed of the folded portion 233 ofthe first base portion 230 as illustrated in FIG. 6. In other words,when the damper 20 is caused to rotate in the counterclockwise directionabout the first shaft 234B by the elastic force of the torsion coilspring 50, the proximal end side corner of the cylinder 21 of the damper20 abuts against the distal end surface 233A (a right end surface asviewed in FIG. 6) of the folded portion 233 of the first base portion230. As a result, the damper 20 is prevented from further rotativemovement. Accordingly, the folded portion 233 of the first base portion230 serves as the angle regulating member 260 with the result that thedamper 20 can be regulated at a predetermined angle relative to thefirst abutment surface 231A of the first base portion 230.

The connecting tools 270 are composed of a first locking tool 271, asecond locking tool 272, a first lock hole 273 and a second lock hole274 as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The first locking tool 271 isformed into a hook shape and has two ends one of which is rotatablymounted on the other end surface 231C (a right end surface as viewed inFIGS. 6 and 7) of the first base plate 231 of the first base portion230. The second locking tool 272 is formed into the same shape as thefirst locking tool 271 and has two ends one of which is rotatablymounted on the other end surface 241C (a left end surface as viewed inFIGS. 6 and 7) of the second base plate 241 of the second base portion240. The first lock hole 273 is recessed in the outer side surface 242A(a right side surface as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7) of the vertical plate242 of the second base portion 240, and the distal end 271A of the firstlocking tool 271 can be inserted into the first lock hole 273 thereby tobe locked when the overturn preventing device 210 is in the foldedstate. The second lock hole 274 is recessed in the outer side surface232A (a left side surface as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7) of the verticalplate 232 of the first base portion 230, and the distal end 272A of thesecond locking tool 272 can be inserted into the second lock hole 274thereby to be locked when the overturn preventing device 210 is in thefolded state. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7, when the overturnpreventing device 210 is set into the folded state, and the distal end271A of the first locking tool 271 is inserted into the first lock hole273 thereby to be locked, and the distal end 272A of the second lockingtool 272 is inserted into the second lock hole 274 thereby to be locked,the connecting tools 270 can maintain the overturn preventing device 201in the folded state. Thus, the overturn preventing device 210 can beheld in the folded state by the connecting tools 270, so that theoverturn preventing device 210 can be handled, for example, carried in acompact size.

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 6, when to be mounted between thetop surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling C, the overturnpreventing device 210 can be mounted in the following manner. Firstly,the overturn preventing device 210 held in the folded state by theconnecting tools 270 is placed on the top surface 1U of the furniture 1.In this case, the overturn preventing device 210 is placed on the topsurface 1U of the furniture 1 while the first base portion 230 islocated at the lower side. Next, the distal end 271A of the firstlocking tool 271 of the overturn preventing device 210 held in thefolded state is pulled out of the first lock hole 273, and the distalend 272A of the second locking tool 272 is pulled out of the second lockhole 274. The elastic force of the torsion coil spring 50 then causesthe damper 20 to rotatively move in the counterclockwise direction aboutthe first shaft 234B, and an expansion force of the compression gasfilling the cylinder 21 causes the damper 20 to extend in length. Theproximal end side corner of the cylinder 21 of the damper 20 abutsagainst the distal end surface 233A of the folded portion 233 of thefirst base portion 230 serving as the angle regulating member 260, sothat the damper 20 makes a predetermined angle with respect to the firstabutting surface 231A of the first base portion 230. The second abuttingsurface 241A of the second base portion 240 abuts against the ceiling Cin this state. More specifically, the damper 20 makes the predeterminedangle also with respect to the second abutting surface 241A of thesecond base portion 240. Thus, the overturn preventing device 210 can bemounted between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceiling Cwhile making the predetermined angle with respect to the first abuttingsurface 231A of the first base portion 230 and the second abuttingsurface 241A of the second base portion 240.

The overturn, preventing device 210 of the third embodiment alsoincludes the damper 20, the first base portion 230, the second baseportion 240 and the connecting tools 270. The damper 20 is mountedbetween the furniture 1 installed on the floor and the ceiling C, andthe expansion force of the compression gas filling the cylinder 21 ofthe damper 20 is applied in the direction such that the length of thedamper 20 is increased. The first base portion 230 is connected to theone end of the damper 20 (the proximal end of the cylinder 21) so as tobe rotatable. The first base portion 230 has the first abutting surface231A abutting against the top surface 1U of the furniture 1. The secondbase portion 240 is connected to the other end of the damper 20 (thedistal end of the rod 22) so as to be rotatable. The second base portion240 has the second abutting surface 241A abutting against the ceiling C.The connecting tools 270 compress the damper 20 to hold the damper 20 inthe folded state in which the first and second base portions 30 and 40come close to each other.

Since the overturn preventing device 210 can be held in the folded stateby the connecting tools 270 in which the damper 20 is compressed withthe result that the first and second base portions 230 and 240 comeclose to each other, the overturn preventing device 210 can be handled,for example, carried in a compact size.

Accordingly, the overturn preventing device 210 of the third embodimentcan easily be handled, for example, carried.

Furthermore, the overturn preventing device 210 of the third embodimentincludes the angle regulating member 260 which regulates the damper 20so that the damper 20 makes predetermined angle with respect to thefirst abutting surface 231A of the first base portion 230 and the secondabutting surface 241A of the second base portion 240 under the conditionwhere the holding of the folded state by the connecting tools 270 hasbeen released. Accordingly, the overturn preventing device 210 can beinstalled between the top surface 1U of the furniture 1 and the ceilingC while the damper 20 makes the predetermined angle with respect to thefirst abutting surface 231A of the first base portion 230 and the secondabutting surface 241A of the second base portion 240, with the resultthat the furniture 1 can successfully be prevented from overturn.

The present invention should not be limited to the first to thirdembodiments described above with reference to the drawings, but thetechnical scope of the invention encompasses the following embodiments,for example.

-   (1) Although the overturn preventing device includes the angle    regulating members or the distance regulating members in each of the    first to third embodiments, the overturn preventing device may not    include with these members.-   (2) Although the overturn preventing device in each of the first to    third embodiments includes the torsion coil spring applying the    elastic force to the damper in a direction such that the damper is    raised with respect to the first base portion, the overturn    preventing device may not include the torsion coil spring. In this    case, a person who installs the overturn preventing device may    manually raise the damper or automatically raise the damper by    another configuration.-   (3) Although the damper is used as the overturn preventing tool in    the first to third embodiments, a coiled spring or the like may be    used, instead.-   (4) Although the compression damper is used as the overturn    preventing tool in the first to third embodiments, the damper may be    an extension damper in which a damping force generated during an    extending operation is larger than a damping force generated during    a compressing operation or a bidirectional damper.-   (5) Although the overturn preventing device is mounted between the    top surface of the furniture (article) and the ceiling in each of    the first to third embodiments, the overturn preventing device may    be disposed between the top surface of the furniture (article) and a    wall surface, between a rear surface of the furniture (article) and    the wall surface or between a bottom of the furniture (article) and    the floor (an installation surface).-   (6) In each of the first and second embodiments, each connecting    tool has the rectangular connecting tool body and the locking pieces    which extend from longer sides of the connecting tool body in the    same direction while being perpendicular to the longer sides, and    two connecting tools constitute one set. However, a connecting tool    may be a rectangular cylindrical connecting tool which has one or    both open ends. The overturn preventing device in the folded state    may be inserted into the rectangular cylindrical connecting tool    through the opening thereof thereby to be held in the folded state.-   (7) Although two distance regulating members constitute one set in    the second embodiment, only one distance regulating member may be    connected to the first and second base portions to regulate the    distance between the first and second base portions into a    predetermined distance.-   (8) Although the overturn preventing device includes the angle    regulating members in each of the first and third embodiments and    the overturn preventing device includes the distance regulating    members in the second embodiment, both the angle regulating members    and the distance regulating members may be provided together.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

1 . . . furniture (article), C . . . ceiling, W . . . wall surface, 10,110, 210 . . . overturn preventing device, 20 . . . damper (overturnpreventing tool), 30, 230 . . . first base portion, 31A, 231A . . .first abutting surface, 40, 240 . . . second base portion, 41A, 241A . .. second abutting surface, 70, 270 . . . connecting tools, 60, 260 . . .angle regulating members and 80 . . . distance regulating members.

1. An overturn preventing device comprising: an overturn preventing toolmounted between an article installed on an installation surface and aceiling, a wall surface extending in a vertical direction from theinstallation surface or the installation surface, a force being appliedto the overturn preventing tool in a direction such that a lengththereof is increased; a first base portion rotatably connected to one oftwo ends of the overturn preventing tool and having a first abuttingsurface which abuts against the article; a second base portion rotatablyconnected to the other end of the overturn preventing tool and having asecond abutting surface which abuts against the ceiling, the wallsurface or the installation surface; and a connecting tool maintaining afolded state in which the overturn preventing tool is contracted so thatthe first base portion and the second base portion come close to eachother.
 2. The overturn preventing device according to claim 1, furthercomprising an angle regulating member which regulates the overturnpreventing tool so that the overturn preventing tool makes apredetermined angle with respect to the first abutting surface of thefirst base portion and the second abutting surface of the second baseportion under a condition where the overturn preventing tool has beenreleased from holding of the folded state by the connecting tool.
 3. Theoverturn preventing device according to claim 1, further comprising adistance regulating member which regulates the overturn preventing toolso that the first and second base portions are away from each other by apredetermined distance when the overturn preventing tool has extended.